A powerful atmospheric river storm battered Southern California this week, triggering widespread flooding, dangerous freeway conditions, mudslides, and emergency evacuations as Christmas approached. The storm system arrived Tuesday night, intensified throughout Wednesday, and delivered intermittent but heavy rainfall through Christmas Day, overwhelming infrastructure and leaving communities struggling to respond.
Drivers across the region faced hazardous travel conditions as intense downpours reduced visibility and flooded roadways. On Wednesday, all northbound lanes of Interstate 5 in San Fernando were shut down for hours after a FedEx semi-truck crashed amid heavy rain. Motorists reported traffic grinding to a standstill, with the freeway resembling a rain-soaked parking lot as emergency crews worked to clear the wreckage.
The National Weather Service warned that saturated ground significantly increased the risk of flooding and mudslides as the storm progressed. Officials cautioned residents that even moderate rainfall could now cause major impacts, given how much water had already fallen across the region. A flood watch remained in effect through Friday afternoon.
Los Angeles County saw between 2 and 4 inches of rain during the 48-hour period ending Christmas morning, according to the National Weather Service. Rainfall totals were higher in surrounding valleys and foothills, with the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys receiving up to 6 inches. Mountain communities experienced far more severe conditions.
The most dramatic impacts were felt in Wrightwood, a mountain town of roughly 5,000 residents in San Bernardino County. On Christmas Eve, nearly 10 inches of rain inundated the area, trapping residents as floodwaters and mud surged through streets and into homes. The San Bernardino County Fire Department carried out evacuations as cars were buried in mud and debris.
Video footage aired on Los Angeles television stations showed water rushing into homes and large rocks tumbling through residential areas. While no fatalities or serious injuries were reported in Wrightwood, most residents chose to evacuate. A shelter-in-place order issued earlier was downgraded to an evacuation warning on Christmas Day by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency on Christmas to ensure the city could access state and regional resources. City officials cited ongoing flooding, road damage, and the need for sustained emergency response as the storm lingered.
Rainfall totals in the San Gabriel Mountains were especially extreme. Crystal Lake and the San Gabriel Dam recorded more than 12 inches of rain in just 48 hours. Mount Wilson and Mount Baldy each saw more than 5 inches. Additional rainfall continued into Christmas night across Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties, with mountain areas receiving up to 8 inches in some locations.
Northern California also faced severe weather, though conditions differed. Heavy snow and scattered storms knocked out power to tens of thousands of residents. The Palisades Tahoe ski resort reported more than five feet of snowfall over several days, underscoring the storm’s statewide reach.
According to NBC News, the series of storms resulted in three deaths statewide. The victims included a Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy killed in a solo vehicle crash on Christmas Eve, a 74-year-old man who died in flooding in Redding, and a man in San Diego who suffered cardiac arrest after a falling tree limb struck him.
Forecasters said a weaker storm would move through Southern California on Friday, followed by sunshine and cooler temperatures over the weekend. Officials urged residents to remain cautious, warning that recovery efforts could be hampered by unstable ground and lingering flood risks.
